Form clamp



:luly 17, 1928. r i 1,677,384

J. F. cosTELLo FORM OLAMP 'Filed May l1, 1,925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BY I

ATTORNE 5.

July 17, 1928. 1,677,384

` J. F. cos'rELLo FORM CLAMP Filed may. 11. 1925 25mm-sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

Vlo

Patented July 17, 1928i. Y

@Unirse 'STATES JAMES F. COSTELLO, lor SAN rRAiSTfcIscd-CALIFORNIA VFortin cLAMr.

Application filed May 11,

This invention relates to form clampsand especially to improvements on the structure shown inmy co-pending application entitled Form clamp, Serial Number 5,282, filed January 28, 1925. s

The clamp forming the Subject matter of my co-pending application, and other clamps which are particularly adapted for use in clamping together the several parts of con- 'crete forms such as column'forms andthe like, are lgenerally used on forms Vwhich are square in'cross section, and when the clamps are applied and drawn together it is .foundv lthat considerable care must be taken as the forms are otherwise pulled out of square.'

YThe object of the present inventionris to y 'generally' improve and simplify 'the construc- Ytion and operation of the clampV of the char- 'acterdescribed, and particularly to"`provide Va connection between the clamping sectionsl which will insure a right-angular position or j any other predetermined position between the clamping sections when drawn together.

One form which my invention may assume is exemplified in the vfollowing description j and illustrated in the accompanying draw- A ings, in whichl the. clamping arms.

Y Fig. lis a crossl section of a column form showing clamps applied.

- Fig. 2 1s a perspective view of one pair of Fig. 3/is a perspective View of one pair of the clamping arms showing a modification ofthe same. f

Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly to Fig. l, A indicates a concrete column which has been poured. The numerals 2, 3, 4, and 5 indicatethe forms surround- I ing thesame, andthe numerals 6,77, 8, and

,9 the clamping arms by which the formsfare secured. The arms 6 and 8v are identical in construction and so are the arms 7 and 9.

The perspective view in Fig. 2illustrates one vformof each arm', that is, ar1ns6 and 9.,

Arm'v 9 consists of two pieces of strap iron 1Y0-#10 y of suitable length. These straps are interspaced by means of spacing blocks such as indicated at 11, vand the upper strap l0 is secured tothe lower strap at one end as indicrated'at` 12. l Y

The lower strap of the arm 6 is extended beyond the upper strap and is provided withl a reduced bent portion 21 having a vcam sur;

'spaced pieces of Vstrap iron.

V19257. Serial No. 29,300.

'and 9 are identical in construction and each ycomprises a single piece of strap iron l0 having spaced apertures arranged alongthe length thereof. Secured to each-strap' 10, by vmeans of rivets or the like, are a pair yof spaced triangular plates 13 and Each plate is secured to the strap 10 on opposite sidesl thereof. The spacing between `the plates 1s equal to the thickness of the strap Viron and onevend of the arms` 6 andf8 can be 'placed-between the triangular shaped plates 1n a `manner to be v hereinafter described. The outer ends of the "plates are l provided with a plurality of Valigned slots,as

"than suiiicientto retain'the concrete forms yin place, bothl before and after pouring the` concrete. c y

vForm clamps ofthe character vdescribed meet Vwith one common objection; to wit, that of pulling the forms out of squarewhen applied. vThe main feature of the present invention is to prevent this objectionable feature, and means are therefore provided whereby a limited movement is maintained between the connected ends of the arms. The arms 6jand 8 consist of the double The single vpiece of strap iron 10a forming an integral part of the arms 7 and 9, passes between the spaced straps 10 of the arms 6 and 8, and between the spaced blocks y11. rlhe spacing blocks are spaced substantially'crosswise of the strap iron sections rforming the arms'6 and 8, but they are disposed on a slight angle. Their ends terminate'in flat faces or are in more or less common'use. VThey all shoulders, as shown at l1b and l1C and these shoulders form abutting faces with which VVthe bars 7 and 9V contact when inserted.V

When ContactA is maintainedv between the faces 11b and 11 and the opposed edges of the bars 7 and 9, a right angular position is assumed between the arms 7 A and 8, and 6 and 9, respectively. y Forthis reason it .is impossible to lpull the forms out of Vsquare when the clamping arms are applied.

In actual operation when the concrete forms have been placed in position," it isY only necessary to apply the clamping arms, .as shown in Fig. 1, i. e., the perforated ends of the bars 7 and 9 are passed between the interspaced straps or bars 1() of the arms 6 and 8,V as shown in Fig.` 2, and they lare `moved longitudinally until the desired adjustment isobtained. They are then secured yaga-inst further movement by insertion of a pin 30. The bent ends of the. arms6 and 8 which are indicated at 21 are then swung inwardly between the triangular plates and 4the wedges 20 are inserted and driven into place. The clamping arms will thus draw the forms tightly `together and the possibility of pullingy or drawing the forms out v of'square is obviated.

, If itis desired to remove the arms after ythe concrete has been poured and set, it isv only necessary to release the wedges V30 and toswing the arms 6 and-8 outwardly inthe direction of the arrows a so as to free the bent ends 21 with relation to the triangulary plates. This outward movement ispermitted due to the angular position of the spacing blocks 11. When the arms 6 and 8 have i been swung outwardly, it is also possible to remove them -with relation to the interspaced straps 10, by removing the pins 30 and then pulling the bars 6 and'S out lfrom between the straps.

Concrete columns are usually more or less standardized in size but larger or smaller V vperforations indicated at 11aL so that the' arms 7 and 9 may be lengthened or short.

columns are, nevertheless. constructed.V To

take care of the increases or decreases inv size it is necessary to provide these several eued. The bars 6 and 8 may vbe placed betimes happensthat a column is vhexagonal may be usedand the angular position of the in cross section. In that instance six arms spacing blocks 1 1 may be altered. Such kchanges are obvious and illustration is thought to be unnecessary, themain feature vof this invention heilig thatof maintaining a predetermined position or spread between the arms when they are being pulled together so as not to distort the shape of the forms tobe clamped between the same.

Figure 3 shows a slight modification of the invention. In this case the arms 6 and 8 are provided 1n the form of a single bar ot strap iron having perforations 40 therein. The arm 6 has a bent end 22. The other i ceived between the straps 10 andmsecured inplace by bolts 43 and 44 on either side thereof. f. The Vperforations 40 are so arranged that whenfthe bolts 43 and 44 are insertedl in-any two adjacent perforations, the arm 6, when brought to bear against these bolts.y

on opposite sides thereof will be at a right angle to the arm 9. Thus the bolts permit the arms to swing outwardly away from each other but "serve to limit the .inward swinging movement. y y

Having thus described my invention,v what I claim and 'desireto secure by Letters Patent isl y 1. In a clamp of thecharacterdescribed, a clamping section comprising a pair of arms adapted to be connected at one end, and means at the connected ends ofthe arms for maintaining the arms at right-angles to each other, said means permitting a free spreading movement of the arms `at the y connected point in the opposite direction.

2. In ay clamp of the character described, a clamping section comprising a pair of arms adapted to be connected at one end, and means at the connected ends of the arms for maintaining the arms at rightangles to each other, said means permitting a free spreading movement of the arms at the connected point in the opposite direction, and means permitting longitudinal 'adjustment of the arms at the connected point.

3. A mould clamp having in combination la plurality of bars laid so as Vto present their edges to the mould Vand to completely surround the mould, said bars being arranged Y in pairs and the ends of each pair being laid angularly across each other, means for connecting the opposite ends of each pairy of bars, means for drawing all of the bars together to clamp the mould, andmeans for preventing crossedarms from assuming an angle therebetween 'of less than 90 but permitting outward swinging ot the arms.

4. In a clamp of the character described, a clamping section comprising a. pair of arms, one arm consisting of. a single bar having a plurality of inter'spaced perfora- 'tions formed in onevend and the other arm consistingv of av pair of superposed bars, interspaced spacing blocks secured between the superposed bars of the lastnamed arm and forming pockets in which the perforated single arm may be inserted, said spacing blocks being disposed on an anglecrossvvise 'of the bars to maintain a predetermined spread between the bars in one direction and to permit free spreading of the bars in the opposite direction, and a pin insertable in the perforated single bar to prevent longitudinal movement thereof in one direction With relation to the double bar.

5. A mould clamp having in combination a plurality of bars laid so as to present their edges to the mould and to completely surround the mould, said bars being arranged in pairs one end of each pair being laid angularly across the other, means preventing longitudinal movement of the. bars at the crossing point, means connecting the opposite ends of each pair of bars, and a wedge cooperating with said means to draw all the bars tightly together to clamp the mould, and means on each pair of bars for maintaining them at right-angles With relation to each' other when drawn together, said means permitting spreading of the bars in the opposite direction.

JAMES F. COSTELLO. 

